Lexus partners with AIM Vasser Sullivan

Lexus partners with AIM Vasser Sullivan

One day after announcing its split with 3GT Racing, Lexus has confirmed the newly-formed AIM Vasser Sullivan team as its next service providers in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The partnership will see two Lexus RC F GT3’s continue in the GT Daytona class while uniting first-time sports car entrants Jimmy Vasser and James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan and the veteran AIM Autosport prototype and GT team from Canada.

“We believe AIM Vasser Sullivan is a great fit for our organization as we further evolve our race program,” said David Christ, group vice president and general manager, Lexus division. “Lexus F is a brand infused with motorsports technology and the high performance capabilities of the RC F GT3 on the racetrack has proven Lexus as more than just a luxury automaker.”

Vasser, the 1996 CART IndyCar Series champion, and Sullivan, owner of the SH Racing team, joined forces in IndyCar for five years as KVSH Racing, and returned as a tandem this year to support Sebastien Bourdais under the Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan banner. With the new AIM Autosport alignment, Vasser and Sullivan have a proven infrastructure that brings GRAND-AM Rolex Series, IMSA, and World Challenge pedigree to the relationship.

“Sulli and I are excited and looking forward to entering a new chapter in our racing careers,” Vasser. “I have driven sports cars before, but my career was pretty much limited to the 24 Hours of Daytona, including a ‘class’ win in 1992 and second overall in 2008. The Aim Vasser Sullivan Team, with the support of Lexus and our sponsors, has the tools to get the job done and we are looking forward to this new challenge.”

AIMVS will start its Lexus journey from AIM’s base in Woodbridge, Ontario, while establishing a new U.S. base of operations in North Carolina, and drivers for the Lexus program will be announced at a later date.

“Having the opportunity to campaign two mighty Lexus RC F GT3 race cars in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship next year in partnership with Jimmy and Sulli is fantastic,” said AIM’s Andrew Bordin. “To compete for wins and championships in this ultra-competitive class requires excellence in all aspects of racing and we now have all of the right pieces in place”

Marshall Pruett

The 2019 season marks Marshall Pruett's 33rd year working in the sport. In his role today for RACER, Pruett covers open-wheel and sports car racing as a writer, reporter, photographer, and filmmaker. In his previous career, he served as a mechanic, engineer, and team manager in a variety of series, including IndyCar, IMSA, and World Challenge.